CH 4-3 Piecewise-Stepwise Functions

Ch 4-3
Piecewise and Stepwise Functions
C.N.Colon
ALGEBRA-HP
SBHS
DO NOW
Solve and graph the following equations.
1. 2  4x  5 2. 4  x  12
QUESTION: How are absolute value
equations similar to piecewise
functions?
Today’s Question:
How do we graph piecewise functions?
Up to now, we’ve been looking at functions
represented by a single equation.
In real life, however, functions are

represented by a combination of equations,
each corresponding to a part of the domain.
These are called piecewise functions.

A piecewise function is a function that
is a combination of one or more
functions. The rule for a piecewise
function is different for different parts, or
pieces, of the domain
For instance, movie ticket prices are often

different for different age groups. So the
function for movie ticket prices would
assign a different value (ticket price) for
each domain interval (age group).
 2 x  1, if x  1
f  x  
 3 x  1, if x  1
•One equation gives the value of f(x) when x ≤ 1

•And the other when x>1
Evaluate f(x) when x=0, x=2, x=4
 x  2, if x  2
f ( x)  
 2 x  1, if x  2
•First you have to figure out which equation to use
•You NEVER use both
X=0 X=2 X=4

So:
This one fits This
So: one fits here So:one fits here
This
0+2=2
Into the top 2(2) + 1 = 5 2(4) + 1 = 9
equation f(2) = 5
f(0)=2 f(4) = 9
Graph:
 x  , if x  1
1 3
f ( x)   2 2
  x  3, if x  1
•For all x’s < 1, use the top graph (to the left of 1)
•For all x’s ≥ 1, use the bottom graph (to the

•right of 1)
1 3
2 x  , if x  1
f ( x)   2
  x  3, if x  1
x=1 is the breaking 
point of the graph.
To the left is the top

equation.
To the right is the

bottom equation.
Graph:
 x  1, if x  2
f ( x)  
  x  1, if x  2
Point of Discontinuity
A piecewise function that is constant
for each interval of its domain is
called a step function.
Step Function
 1, if 0  x 1
 2, if 1 x  2
f ( x)  
 3, if 2 x3
 4, if 3 x  4
 1, if 0  x  1
 2, if 1  x  2
f ( x)  
 3, if 2  x  3
 4, if 3  x  4
Graph :
 1, if  4  x  3
 2, if  3  x  2
f ( x)  
 3, if  2  x   1
 4, if  1  x  0
Special Step Functions
Two particular kinds of step functions are called
ceiling functions ( f (x)=  x 

and
floor functions ( f (x)=  x  ).
( f (x)=  x 
In a ceiling function, all non-integers are rounded up to the
nearest integer.
An example of a ceiling function is when a phone service

company charges by the number of minutes used and always
rounds up to the nearest integer of minutes.
In a floor function, all non-integers are rounded down to the
nearest integer.
The way we usually count our age is an example of a floor

function since we round our age down to the nearest year and do
not add a year to our age until we have passed our birthday.
The floor function is the same thing as the greatest integer

function which can be written as f (x)=[x].
EXTRA Examples
Evaluating Piecewise Functions

Evaluating piecewise functions is like evaluating
functions that you are already familiar with.
Let’s calculate f(2).
x2 + 1 , x  0
f(x) = x–1, x0
You are being asked to find y when

x = 2. Since 2 is  0, you will only substitute
into the second part of the function.
f(2) = 2 – 1 = 1
Let’s calculate f(-2).
x2 + 1 , x  0
f(x) = x–1, x0
You are being asked to find y when x = -2.
Since -2 is  0, you will only substitute into the

first part of the function.
f(-2) = (-2)2 + 1 = 5
Your turn:
2x + 1, x  0
f(x) = 2x + 2, x  0
Evaluate the following:
f(-2) = -3? f(5) = 12

?
f(0) = 2? f(1) = 4?
No answers will be given here….
One more:
3x - 2, x  -2
f(x) = -x , -2  x  1
x2 – 7x, x  1
Evaluate the following:
f(-2) = 2? f(3) = ?
-12
f(-4) = -14
? f(1) = -6?
No answers will be given here either….

Homework
Textbook p. 158 # 1-3 and p. 161 #2-16 (e)

CH 4-3 Piecewise-Stepwise Functions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CH 4-3 Piecewise-Stepwise Functions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CH 4-3 Piecewise-Stepwise Functions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ch 4-3

Piecewise and Stepwise Functions

In real life, however, functions are

These are called piecewise functions.

For instance, movie ticket prices are often

•One equation gives the value of f(x) when x ≤ 1

X=0 X=2 X=4

•For all x’s ≥ 1, use the bottom graph (to the

To the left is the top

To the right is the

ceiling functions ( f (x)=  x 

An example of a ceiling function is when a phone service

The way we usually count our age is an example of a floor

The floor function is the same thing as the greatest integer

Evaluating Piecewise Functions

You are being asked to find y when

Since -2 is  0, you will only substitute into the

f(-2) = -3? f(5) = 12

No answers will be given here either….

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.